Coupler



Patented :Mar. 5, 1929. i

umrsn stares mim- JQSEPH SUSIO, F LEWIS RUN, PENNSYLVANIA.

QFFICE;.,

COUPLER.

Application filed September 21, 1926. Serial No. 136,890.

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the coupler Figure 3 is a fragmental longitudinal section of the coupler;

Figure 4 is a section taken about on .the line 44c of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section showing one of the complete couplers;

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Figure 5 thereof. An opening 6 is formed in the partition 5. A closure 7 cooperates with the rear end of the tubular member 3. At its forward end, the body 2 has an annular flange 8. A partition 9 is'located in the body 2 at the base of the flange 8. There is an opening 10 in the partition 9 A ring 11 cooperates with the forward end of the flange 8 on the body 2. The ring 11 has a central opening 12 which slants inward y and backwardly towards the axis of the casing 1. A compressible gasket 14 cooperates with the outer surface of the ring 11. Securing elements 15 pass through thebcdy 2, the end member 3, the closure 7, the ring 11, and the gasket 14, and hold those parts together. The heads of the securing 1. The

elements 15 are countersunk into the gasket 14, as at 16 in Figure 4, so as to permit two couplers, carrying the gaskets 11, to come together, and compress the gaskets, after the showing of Figure 3. Packings 17 may be used, wherever necessary, to provide tight joints. The opening 10 is controlled byia hinged closure 18 provided on its forward surface with a compressible packing or gas-' ket 48 adapted to bear against the rear surface of the partitionv 10. The closure 18 is hinged at 19 to the rear side of the partition 9. The numeral 20 denotes a head or ring bearing against the rear surfaceof the closure 18. The ring 20 has arms 21 slidable in openings 22 in the partition 5. Compression springs 23 surround the arms 21, and, abutting against the ring 20 and against the'parti-' tion 5, serve to hold the member 18 in closed positionwith respect to the opening 10.

A-trough-shaped latch 24: extends lengthwise of the coupler, and backwardly within the flange 8. The inner end of the latch 24 is pivoted at 25 to the partition 9 so that the latch can swing transversely ofthe axis of the casing 1. The latch 2d projects outwardly beyond the forward end of the casing 1. On the forward end of the latch 24 there is a laterally projecting rib. 26. Ret-ractile springs 27- are disposed in bores 28 formed in the ring 11. Theinner ends of thesprings 27 are connected to the latches 24 of the couplers. The outer end of each spring 27 is connectcd'to an anchor 29 seated in the outer end of the bore The tendency of the springs 27 is to swing the forward ends of the latches 24: laterally and outwardly. Near to its rear end, the latch 24 has an inwardly projecting boss '30. A longitudinally extended finger 31 is connected tothc boss. The finger 31 projects beyond the outer end "of the latch 24.

Air, steam, or-other fluid under pressure is admitted within the coupling through a rigid pipe 32 assembled with the closure 7 and slidable in a bracket 33 on the draw head 34. The inner end of the pipe 32 is connected to a sup ply tube 35. The casing 1 is provided with a hanger including a stem 36 mounted on the end member 3 and provided at its upper end with a transverse head 37 The stem 36 of the hanger slides in an elongated opening 38 in a bracket 39 secured to the draw head '34. The bracket 39 is of trough-shape, and the part 37 of the hanger, cooperating with the bottom of the bracket, holds the coupler in ed to resist, yiel'dably, the backward movement of the coupler, when two couplers are brought together, as shown in Figure 3,

A laterally extended pipe 41 is assembled with the body 2 of the casing land communicates with the space within the casing.

The pipe 12 carries a valve 43. The valve 13' is operated by a. lever 49, or otherwise, connected by a flexible element 50 with the coupler head 51. The valve 43 discharges through a whistle or other audible signal 52' mounted on the casing of the valve 1-3.

WVhen two couplers, constructed in accordance with the invention, are brought together, as in Figure 3, the gaskets 14c cooperate to form an hermetic oint, especially in view of the action of the springs 40. The ribs 46 on the latches 24, slide over the inclined walls of the openings 12 in the rings 11 and lock or engage behind the rings, as shown in Figure 3, to hold the couplers together. The finger 31 on the latch 24 of each coupler, cooperating with the closure 18 of the other coupler, opens the closure, and, thus, the contiguity of the fluid-pressure line is secured.

In the event that the head 51, or any part of .it, breaks off, or if one of the casings 1 becomes loose and falls down, the flexible element 50 will be tightened, thereby causing the whistle 52 to sound, and admonishing the operator of the train that such a contingency has occurred. In the eventthat the coupler head 51 breaks off or drops down, it is to be observed that, not only will the whistle 52 be sounded, but, as well, the air will be let out of the line, by the opening of the valve &3, thereby causing the brakes to be set, if the device is embodied in a brake system.

lVhat is claimed is Mechanism of the class described, comprising a casing supplied at its forward end with a flange, a ring attached to the front end of the flange the ring overhanging the chamber which the flange defines, a latch extended lengthwise of the casing and prolonged rearwardly into the chamber, the latch having a lateral ribat its outer end, and the ring being provided with an opening having aback wardly and inwardly inclined edge along which the rib of the latch on a like coupler rides and engages behind the ring, a partition in the casing at the base'of the flange and having an opening, means for mounting the latch hingedly on the outer surface of the partition to swing transversely of the axis of the coupler, a spring-operated closure for the opening, means for supporting the casing, a fluid pressure pipe opening into the back end of the casing, a bracket in which the pipe is slidable, a hanger on the casing, a second bracket in which the hangerslides, a compression spring on the pipe and yieldable in a direction parallel to that in which the hanger slides, the spring engagingthe bracket and the casing, and a finger adapted to open the closure of a like coupler, the finger-being connected to the latch near the base of the latch and extending lengthwise of the latch, the latch having a concavity receiving the finger, and the finger extending beyond the outer end of the latch. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

JOSEPH SUSIO. 

